Despite similar names, there’s no direct connection between Austria (meaning “east” in Germanic languages) and Australia (meaning “southern land” in Latin). However, Aussies are forging new links to the European doppelgänger, setting new visitation records in 2024.
Another myth to bust: travellers are not mistakenly flying to Austria instead of Australia and there is no help counter for hapless flyers at Salzburg Airport, as confirmed to The Washington Post.
What Aussie travellers are doing, however, is flocking to landlocked Austria in record numbers.
In 2024, Australian arrivals rose by 3.8 per cent year-on-year and set new overnight stay records with an annual increase of 2.2 per cent against 2023, which was already a record-breaking year – up 124.5 per cent on 2022.
Austria Tourism Market Representative for Australia & South-East Asia Lilly Freudmayer said the biggest increase was seen in Innsbruck, aka the capital of the Alps, with a more than 20 per cent lift in overnight stays from Australia.
Vienna and Salzburg also recorded a boost in Australian visitation last year – up 4.5 per cent and two per cent, respectively.
In December 2024 alone, Aussie travellers accounted for 79,000 overnight stays in one month – a figure that has never been reached before for Australian visitation to Austria.
“The boost in December was amazing,” Freudmayer told Karryon.
“I believe it is down to the desire to experience a white and magical Christmas, which you can truly do in Austria. Not just the cities but even towns and villages are festively decorated and the Christmas Markets are open throughout December – a visit to Austria during this time is truly magical.
“Additionally, snow was great in December and skiing at the beginning of the winter season has its own charm – especially if it is before Christmas and New Year when the ski resorts are still quiet and you can really enjoy the fresh snow and great weather by yourself,” she said.
Looking forward in 2025
The increased visitation also comes as the first-ever Michelin Guide Austria edition launched with 82 Michelin Stars, 33 Green Stars and 43 Bib Gourmands across all nine provinces.
In addition, Sound of Music fans can celebrate the 60th anniversary of the beloved movie with the Sound of Salzburg menu, featuring food classics from the film, among other events and commemorations.
The menu of reimagined schnitzel with noodles, crisp apple strudel and a glass of Max’s pink lemonade is available only at Gaumenfreund Restaurant at Hyperion Salzburg near Mirabell Gardens, one of the movie locations.
For more info, head to austria.info
